Phys.org:
Pixabay
“The blood, bones, feathers and liver tissue of 1,210 eagles sampled from 2010 to 2018 were examined to assess chronic and acute lead exposure.
”This is the first time for any wildlife species that we’ve been able to evaluate lead exposure and population level consequences at a continental scale,” said study co-author Todd Katzner, a wildlife biologist at U.S. Geological Survey in Boise, Idaho. “It’s sort of stunning that nearly 50% of them are getting repeatedly exposed to lead.”
Lead is a neurotoxin that even in low doses impairs an eagle’s balance and stamina, reducing its ability to fly, hunt and reproduce. In high doses, lead causes seizures, breathing difficulty and death.
The study estimated that lead exposure reduced the annual population growth of bald eagles by 4% and golden eagles by 1%.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
This does not need to happen. Many of us hunters have used copper or other non-toxic ammo for years.
